Many of you will recognize all the UN Agenda 21 implications of pretty much this whole thing.  I certainly have no dog in the fight against a clean river, clean parks etc., but most of this is a fraud meant to stack and pack folks in the downtown and move towards the UN's Agenda 21 objectives.  Your thoughts?   Downtown Vision (partnering with the City of Jacksonville)  are the same folks that are involved in almost everything going on downtown (and since the city now owns most of the property downtown and pays no taxes, much like the people in Atlanta, we in the suburbs will be paying for all the grandiose plans set forth for the downtown.............as we have in the past without much in the way of input into the plans!

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Downtown Sustainability

Downtown Jacksonville boasts one of the most beautiful down towns in the country, situated in a coastal climate on one of the largest rivers in the United States, the St. Johns River. Downtown Vision, Inc. and its stakeholders work to help transform Downtown into one of the most sustainable, green neighborhoods of the city

Downtown Green Collaborative

Summer 2010, Downtown Vision, Inc. formed a Downtown Green Collaborative (DGC) to make Downtown Jacksonville the most sustainable neighborhood in Northeast Florida. Downtown Vision has partnered with the City of Jacksonville, JEA, U.S. Green Building Council North Florida, ULI North Florida and Downtown property owners and businesses to capitalize on Downtown’s unique positioning.
DGC focuses on education and awareness of the importance of sustainability practices that promote environmental responsibility and economic viability.

Concerns regarding energy consumption, water conservation, air and water pollution, as well as transportation, can all be efficiently mitigated in a healthy Downtown. The case for urban redevelopment as a sustainable solution to these challenges is inherent to Downtown, which can make efficient use of existing public facilities, infrastructure investment and services.

Living and working Downtown offers a more sustainable and efficient lifestyle because the transportation, business and housing choices available in urban areas have considerably less environmental impact as both residents and employees can efficiently share services, and walk, bike or take public transportation as part of their daily routine. Downtown Jacksonville is well-suited for this role, as it is both the geographic center of the region and embraces the area’s most cherished natural resource, the St. Johns River.

Property owners in the Downtown Improvement District interested in participating may contact Terry Lorince at Downtown Vision, Inc. at 904-634-0303, ext. 223, or email terry@downtownjacksonville.org.

Downtown Green Collaborative Plan | Download PDF

Why

Downtowns and Sustainability By Terry Lorince, Executive Director, Downtown Vision, Inc. The Economics of Green By James A. Richardson, Environmental Protection Board Administrator, City of Jacksonville
Why the Sustainability Center Had to be Located Downtown By Corie Baker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Pond and Company
Downtown Improvement District Commercial Building Energy Challenge By Jeremiah Cobb, ARRA Grants Coordinator, City of Jacksonville
Green Grants for Non-Profits (GG4N) By Nicholas Zelaya, MPA, LEED-GA, Grant Coordinator-EECBG

Important Links and Resources

U.S. Green Building Council, North Florida Chapter: www.usgbcnf.org

Sustainable North Florida: www.sustainablenorthflorida.org

Sustainable Jacksonville: www.meetup.com/sustainablejacksonville

City of Jacksonville, Office of Sustainability Initiatives: www.coj.net/departments/environmental-and-compliance/office-of-sust...

Jacksonville Green Source: www.jacksonvillegreensource.com

Southern Energy Efficiency Center: www.southernbuildings.org/partners/index.htm

Open Green Map, Jacksonville: www.opengreenmap.org/greenmap/jacksonville